Mercedes-Benz GLB vs Volvo XC40
Verdict
At RM290,888, the Mercedes-Benz GLB is RM22,000 dearer than the Volvo XC40, and the trade is very clear for Malaysia. The GLB gives you seven seats, a longer 2,829 mm wheelbase and lower RM100 road tax, but its 161 hp/270 Nm front-drive 1.3 takes 9.3 seconds to reach 100 km/h. The XC40 is the harder-hitting five-seater: 263 hp, 390 Nm, AWD, 6.4 seconds, a 460-litre boot and a five-year warranty.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLB if you need seven seats, want the longer 2,829 mm wheelbase and prefer the lower RM100 annual road tax.
Pick the Volvo XC40 if you want the quicker, more powerful five-seat SUV with AWD, a bigger 460-litre boot and a longer five-year warranty.
Key differences
- Price: Mercedes-Benz GLB RM290,888; Volvo XC40 RM268,888
- Seats: Mercedes-Benz GLB 7; Volvo XC40 5
- Power and torque: Mercedes-Benz GLB 161 hp/270 Nm; Volvo XC40 263 hp/390 Nm
- Driven wheels: Mercedes-Benz GLB front-wheel drive; Volvo XC40 all-wheel drive
- 0-100 km/h: Mercedes-Benz GLB 9.3 s; Volvo XC40 6.4 s
- Boot space: Mercedes-Benz GLB 130 L; Volvo XC40 460 L
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 290,888 | RM 268,888✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Engine | 1,332 cc | 1,969 cc |
| Power | 161 hp | 263 hp✓ |
| Torque | 270 Nm | 390 Nm✓ |
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Conventional Automatic |
| Driven wheels | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | 9.3 s | 6.4 s✓ |
| Top speed | 207 km/h✓ | 180 km/h |
| Efficiency | ||
| Fuel economy | — | 7.7 L/100km |
| CO₂ | — | 50 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,634 mm | 4,425 mm |
| Width | 1,834 mm | 1,863 mm |
| Height | 1,663 mm | 1,658 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,829 mm | 2,702 mm |
| Boot space | 130 L | 460 L✓ |
| Fuel tank | 52 L | 49 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 | 7 |
| Auto emergency braking | Yes | Yes |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 2 | 5✓ |
| Road tax / year | RM 100✓ | RM 428 |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
GLB
- Seven seats in a C-segment SUV
- Longer 2,829 mm wheelbase
- Lower RM100 annual road tax
- Slower 9.3-second 0-100 km/h time
- Much smaller 130-litre boot
- Shorter two-year warranty
XC40
- Strong 263 hp and 390 Nm output
- AWD and 6.4-second 0-100 km/h time
- Five-year warranty
- Only five seats
- Higher RM428 annual road tax
- Lower 180 km/h top speed
GLB vs XC40 FAQ
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLB or Volvo XC40 better?
The Volvo XC40 is the better five-seat SUV on paper: it is cheaper, quicker, more powerful, has AWD, a larger boot and a longer warranty. The Mercedes-Benz GLB is the better pick only if you need seven seats.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz GLB costs RM290,888, while the Volvo XC40 costs RM268,888. That makes the GLB RM22,000 more expensive.
Which is quicker, the Mercedes-Benz GLB or Volvo XC40?
The Volvo XC40 is much quicker. It does 0-100 km/h in 6.4 seconds with 263 hp and 390 Nm, while the Mercedes-Benz GLB takes 9.3 seconds with 161 hp and 270 Nm.